Noella (Nov-Dec 2009)

Chapter one

A small blip of red was forming where Noella pricked her finger again. She was starting to look like a pin cushion. A grin spread across her cheery face. Perhaps it was worth it. The little doll dress was now embroidered with fine gold thread into tiny holly leaves. She thought to herself. “I am a tinker not a Tailor, but I do fine work.” She picked up another tiny dress and started the process all over. Perhaps this time she would work roses around the collar. She hummed as she worked. Soon two, three, four more were complete. She was finished for the day. As she exhaled she could see a mist before her nose and mouth. She had been so engrossed in her work that she had let the fire burn down to little more than a few smoking embers. Now that she was no longer working she felt the chill of the night.

Up she got and walked to the door. Outside the sun was barely peeking over the western horizon. A halo of pale orange circled its circumference. Wispy clouds with rosy pink linings splashed colour across the azure sky. The woodshed before her was all dark and shadowy. She would tread lightly. It was an hour when the Frost trolls often jumped out of the shadows to pillage the tinker guild. Nickolai had been attacked just two nights past. It put his work behind as he recuperated in the infirmary. Noella had offered her help. She was willing to pick up any extra work Nickolai could not do. He flatly refused. His words still hurt.

“You must be a Legend dear Noella to take on my responsibilities. You are a master but it is not enough”

Hmm, her cousin was always a bit conceited. He truly believed he was the only one who could perform the ancient magic. He kept his secrets all locked up in his study. She shook her head. If Nickolai could not do his part someone else would have to.

Somehow she had to get hold of his secret book that he kept locked in his Study at the back of the STAG workshop. She was afraid to go there since the raid that injured Nicholai. She would seek help. The people of Sonoma were a wonderful lot who were always happy to help someone in need. With that, Noella had decided to convince the people to help her steal The Secrets of the Legend. The Tinker’s Book.

She found a group sitting chatting at the Luna Fair ground. They were making preparations for a big party and meal. It sounded delicious. Turkey and pumpkin pie!! Slowly she walked onto the stage.

“Hello” She said in a small voice.
*fidgets and blushes*
”I am not used to speaking in front of people”.
*licks lips and gulps gently*
”I am Noella. I am a tinker at the secret tinkers association guild.
We call ourselves Stag. We have a wonderful guild master.
Though he tends to be Vainglorious. He works very hard. So I thought I could help him.
I borrowed his book. It is a Big Red Tome called the Secrets of the Legend.
There are some very rare spells in it. A fascinating read.”
*realizes she is rambling*
”Well I put the book down.Just for a moment you see.”
*Looks at the people to be sure they understand and nods*
”I needed a hot cocoa. It is cold where we live.On my way to get the chocolate I was beset by a group of orcs. They raid the island and search for our hidden guild house all the time”
*breathes deeply*
”So now I need the book back to give back to Nickolai or he will be very angry with me.
Will you come to the Island of Ice and snow and retrieve this book?”

The speech had worked well. Soon a larger group of people came and traveled with her to raid Nicholai’s study and workshop.

When Noella stepped into the workshop she was overcome once more by its beauty. Frosted trees shimmered throughout the main atrium. The work stations had lovely presents in various stated of completion but the best part was it smelled like fresh baked cookies. All the members of Stag loved to bake and eat cookies with Hot Chocolate. At the back a large pile of wrapped and unwrapped gifts sat waiting to be loaded on the Luge for delivery. This year she would have to make those deliveries.

The citizens of Sonoma looked through everything searching for the large tomb. Finally it was found sitting in the open on Nicholai’s desk. No one seemed to suspect anything strange so Noella snatched up the book and hid it in her pack.

”Oh I think the Trolls took the book. Now Nickolai will be very angry.
I must go and hide where he will not find me. Thank you all for your help.”

She ran away to start her studies. Just as she reached the top of the mountain she looked back and saw the big brutish Trolls run down to the Entry of the Igloo. The Sonomen were just coming out. The Troll was evil grabbing and pounding the poor people. Noella hoped they would be able to survive. She saw many on the ground. They seemed unconscious. She sat and watched for a while afraid to move. This had to be the one who hurt Nicholai! The people were losing. There was nothing she could do. She headed for home.

She was back in her little room now. Safe from the cold night. Safe from the Frost Trolls. She put new kindling on the fire and curled up before it. Her tired eyelids drooped heavily and soon she was in the world of sleep.

Noella had studied the book over and over. The cryptic wording had made her eyes cross and given her a head ache. At first she had wondered why there were so many blank pages. Then she realized that only a Legend Tinker or his family could read the book. She was a disappointing distant cousin. More distant than she liked to admit. Her magic power was very small. Yet she felt she could overcome her lineage if she spoke to Nicholai. An evening in the infirmary was all it had taken. She had taken Nicholai hot chocolate and ginger cookies. Then she started her requests.

“Nicholai remember when we were young and you would make me sparkle? You said you could only do it for a relative? You did it for me! Can you do it now? Oh you are still so ill. It saddens me. The little Tinkers are also very sad. Can you grant me the power just for a little while so that I can cheer them up?”

It had worked. Nicholai had bestowed enough of his magic on Noella that she could decipher much more of the book. The hardest part was to understand the relationship between the pixie flight and the Caribou. Not just any Caribou; the special ones that could be taught flight.

Noella liked the Spirituality area. Little baubles were often dropped y the pixies. She was sorry she had to do this. The book said pixie essence. How did Nicholai do that? She set traps around the pixies house and caught the little things. They glowed in the trap. How cute they were. These she sent to Malas where she would join their essence to the Caribou. Then the Caribou could fly. Once that was accomplished all would be well.

Sometimes sacrifices had to be made. The little pixies did not dance so much when they were in the crates or on the boats. Noella hated to see them sad but she had no choice. Micheal the bar tender had been upset with her. He told her it just did not seem right. She had enough and set sail for her make shift lab.

After days of hard work, Noella felt she had the solution. If Nicholai did not recover, she would be able to bring the festivities to Sosaria even if it meant some minor changes to the original magicks.

Things were not going right. How did that spell go again? Noella’s head nodded from exhaustion. It was strange that Nicholai never seemed so tired. Maybe he had experienced it when he was new to the magic; though, Noella did not ever remember him ever losing his temper or seeming overwhelmed. He was always smiling with big twinkling eyes. He always had time to make hot chocolate and share a cookie. Hmm, maybe it was yesterday! Noella could not remember the last time she ate never mind socialize with the other Tinkers.

It was true Nicholai got all the credit for all the guild’s hard work. He never boasted about it. He never favored himself. He just did what had to be done. Noella wanted a bit of recognition. It was not her fault that the big frost troll had seriously injured Nicholai. Wasn’t she doing what had to be done? Wasn’t it all for the best in the end? After the Festivals she would put everything back the way it should be. She knew the words for that. They were in a stack of books in the guild room.

She rubbed her temples hoping the headache would ease up. Then she smiled, thinking it is worth it. I feel so powerful.

The caribou and Pixies seemed to get along. Noella cast the spell on two groups. The pixie disappeared. The Caribou reared up then it took to the sky.. The overwhelming elation at her success made her feel dizzy. Like when she drank too much spiked eggnog. It took a moment to realize that they had turned on the guards and animal handlers. They went into a mad frenzie killing any living thing in their path. They were abominations. Noella had to get out of there and star over. This would never do. She silently backed away and head to the other side of the blackwater river that Malas is famous for.

Things were still not going well. She was being very careful this time. But none of her creations seemed to be able to catch the updraft and lift into the air. What was more worrisome, one of them had escaped the corral. She hoped he would be ok. He had been limping the night before.

The power feelings she got when she made a new caribou pixie were no longer elating. Her stomach was always queasy now. Sleep eluded her. Her head ached all the time. She decided to go see a healer in Luna.

Feeling a bit better she head over to the petting zoo. She could not believe her eyes. There in one of the cages was her Caribou. How did he get there?

After looking around she decided to talk to Lilly the seer.

Lilly told Noella how the Sonoma people had found the little Caribou badly injured.

“Caribou are very rare and only like to live in cold climates.” Lilly scolded her. “It is an abomination that you made. Half caribou and Half pixie. The Magic is very old and very powerful. Only the Legend should use it. Nickolai is the legend. He makes Reindeer fly”

Lilly looked right into Noella’s eye. Noella knew she could see her very soul.
”A reindeer is a special Caribou. With the right spell Components they can fly.
Pixie dust is an herb! You thought it meant to grind the pixies wings. You hurt those sweet little pixies. And the essence is just a name of a potion that you make with ginseng and cranberries. You should have know better Noella.”

Noella cried. Yes she was ashamed. She felt regret for herself and hated herself for what she had done. She walked over to the caribou in the pen and fed him some apples and brought him water. Then she left. She planned to never been seen again.

Noella shivered when she heard the news. Nicholai was well and searching his study. It would only be a matter of time before he found out what she had done. Oh how she wished she had not been so filled with ego the day she convinced the people to help her steal Nicholai’s book. She had been so sure that she could handle the Magicks. Alas! great harm had been done by her. She had been so terrified of the abominations that evolved from her caribou that she ran away and hid. She hoped the little pixies would one day forgive her.

If she knew Nicholai, and she did, he would be out looking for her. She would be on a permanent naughty list. She could not bear the shame. To think she was a favoured Tinker, one of Nicholai’s best. Now she would be an outcast.

Tears ran down her rosy cheeks. She could no longer return to her home on the snowy mountain. She would no longer be welcomed at STAG. She would not even welcome herself. If only time could be turned back. She started to set the barriers to protect herself. Surely the people would come and cause her great pain. She saw how easily they had defeated the Trolls. She was nothing compared to them and her crimes were just as bad. They would show her no mercy.

She watched as her barriers were solved and the people advanced. What would they do to her? Nothing that she did not deserve! She stood as the first one entered her sanctuary.

Noella had studied the book over and over. The cryptic wording had made her eyes cross and given her a head ache. At first she had wondered why there were so many blank pages. Then she realized that only a Legend Tinker or his family could read the book. She was a disappointing distant cousin. More distant than she liked to admit. Her magic power was very small. Yet she felt she could overcome her lineage if she spoke to Nicholai. An evening in the infirmary was all it had taken. She had taken Nicholai hot chocolate and ginger cookies. Then she started her requests.

“Nicholai remember when we were young and you would make me sparkle? You said you could only do it for a relative? You did it for me! Can you do it now? Oh you are still so ill. It saddens me. The little Tinkers are also very sad. Can you grant me the power just for a little while so that I can cheer them up?”

It had worked. Nicholai had bestowed enough of his magic on Noella that she could decipher much more of the book. The hardest part was to understand the relationship between the pixie flight and the Caribou. Not just any Caribou; the special ones that could be taught flight.

After days of hard work, Noella felt she had the solution. If Nicholai did not recover, she would be able to bring the festivities to Sosaria even if it meant some minor changes to the original magicks.

Chapter Three

Things were not going right. How did that spell go again? Noella’s head nodded from exhaustion. It was strange that Nicholai never seemed so tired. Maybe he had experienced it when he was new to the magic; though, Noella did not ever remember him ever losing his temper or seeming overwhelmed. He was always smiling with big twinkling eyes. He always had time to make hot chocolate and share a cookie. Hmm Maybe it was yesterday! Noella could not remember the last time she ate never mind socialize with the other Tinkers.

It was true Nicholai got all the credit for all the guilds hard work. He never boasted about it. He never favored himself. He just did what had to be done. Noella wanted a bit of recognition. It was not her fault that the big frost troll had seriously injured Nicholai. Wasn’t she doing what had to be done? Wasn’t it all for the best in the end? After the Festivals she would put everything back the way it should be. She knew the words for that. They were in a stack of books in the guild room.

She rubbed her temples hoping the headache would ease up. Then she smiled , thinking it is worth it. I feel so powerful.

Chapter Four

Noella shivered when she heard the news. Nicholai was well and searching his study. It would only be a matter of time before he found out what she had done. Oh how she wished she had not been so filled with ego the day she convinced the people to help her steal Nicholai’s book. She had been so sure that she could handle the Magicks. Alas! great harm had been done by her. She had been so terrified of the abominations that evolved from her caribou that she ran away and hid. She hoped the little pixies would one day forgive her.

If she knew Nicholai, and she did, he would be out looking for her. She would be on a permanent naughty list. She could not bear the shame. To think she was a favoured Tinker, one of Nicholai’s best. Now she would be an outcast.

Tears ran down her rosy cheeks. She could no longer return to her home on the snowy mountain. She would no longer be welcomed at STAG. She would not even welcome herself. If only time could be turned back. She started to set the barriers to protect herself. Surely the people would come and cause her great pain. She saw how easily they had defeated the Trolls. She was nothing compared to them and her crimes were just as bad. They would show her no mercy.